Combination safety gib and locking means for straight edges in line-up and register tbles



March 27, 1962 G. H. CHARNOCK, JR 3,026,623

COMBINATION SAFETY GIB AND LOCKING MEANS FOR STRAIGHT EDGES IN LINE-UP AND REGISTER TABLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 4, 1959 GeoWgeHZZaat March 27, 1962 G. H. CHARNOCK, JR 3, 5,623

COMBINATION SAFETY GIB AND LOCKING MEANS FOR STRAIGHT EDGES IN LINE-UP AND REGISTER TABLES Filed Dec. 4, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mmmum:nmmunmmunmunmmmlmm 122015822303 Gearge II. fltfoa' ney States atent 3Z6fi23 Patented Mar. 27, 19fi2 thee CUMBINATION SAFETY GIB AND LGCKING MEANS FOR STRAIGHT EDGES IN LINEUP AND REGISTER TABLES George H. Charnock, In, 819 Dedham St., Newton Center, Mass. Filed Dec. 4, 1959, Ser. No. 857,325 6 Claims. (Cl. 33-1845) This invention relates to line-up and register tables for use in the graphic arts industry and in particular the invention is concerned with an improved safety and locking means for straight edge assemblies commonly employed on line-up and register tables.

In conventional forms of tables it is customary to employ two straight edge assemblies which are adjustably mounted on machine cut gear tracks at the upper side of the table so that each assembly may move independently of the other. It is customary to refer to one of the straight edge assemblies as a horizontal straight edge and the other as a vertical straight edge. Since these straight edges are designed for a maximum of precision, it is important to prevent the assemblies from striking one another and being accidentally damaged or thrown out of adjustment. In actual working conditions there is likelihood of a certain amount of accidental movement with the result that it is difficult to prevent damage to straight edge parts.

It is a chief object of the invention to improve straight edge construction and to devise a combination safety gib and lock by means of which one straight edge may be moved into a working position only when the other straight edge is located back against a holding mechanism in a safety position such that it is prevented from any movement while the first noted straight edge is being used.

Another object of the invention is to devise a simple and efficient gib and lock arrangement which can be readily attached to conventional forms of line-up and register tables without changing or modifying the structure or operation of such tables.

Still another object is to combine a gib and locking element for each straight edge assembly in such a way that the step of moving one straight edge assembly back against its respective holding stop will automatically move its respective locking element .out of a locking position with respect to the other straight edge and similarly movement of the other straight edge into a working position will automatically set its locking element in a position to prevent accidental travel of the first noted straight edge.

These and other objects and novel features will be more fully understood and appreciated from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a precision table of the class referred to showing both vertical and horizontal straight edges moved back against their respective holding stops and further showing respective combination safety gib and lock units attached thereto;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 and further showing the position assumed by one of the straight edges when disengaged from its holding stop and moved forwardly into a position to prevent movement of the other straight edge assembly;

FIG. 3 is a detail vertical cross section showing the safety gib and locking element of one straight edge assembly in a position to prevent movement of the other straight edge assembly;

FIG. 4 is a view in side elevation of the combination gib and lock components of one assembly removed from the table; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded view showing the parts of FIG. 4 separated from one another.

In the structure shown in the drawings, numeral 2 indicates fragmentarily a line-up and register table which is mounted on a supporting frame or base 4. Numeral 6 indicates a scale of conventional form. Numeral 8 denotes a vertical rack and numeral 10- denotes a horizontal rack. These racks are customarily employed to receive and guide respective straight edge units 12 and 1-4 and include extensions 8a and 10a which project out from the table frame. The straight edge units are mounted along two adjacent sides of the table and are provided with pivoting arms as 16 and 18. Supported between rear extremities of these pivoting arms 16 and 18 are cylindrical stay tubes as 20 and 22 which are adapted to be releasably held in spring holding members as 19 and 21 fixed to an underside of the table. Within the stay tubes 20 and 22 are received rotating shafts to which are pinned gears for meshing with respective racks 8 and 10 in the well known manner.

In the usual operation of the conventional table structure described one unit is moved back into an unoperative position with its stay tube engaged in a respective spring holding device, while the other unit is free to move into any desired position along the table.

In accordance with the invention, I provide along the sides of the gear rack extensions 8a and 16a at points above the frame brackets 30' and 32, rail extensions 5 and 7 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The rail extensions are solidly secured to the racks by screws and are formed with inwardly projecting guide edges as 5a and 7a, and at their inner ends the rail extensions abut against the corner surfaces of the table. At points just in front of the abutment of the rail extensions with the respective corner surfaces, I further form in each of these extension rail members slots as 38 and 40. (FIG. 1.) These slots 3'6 and 4! are chosen of a width and depth adapted to receive therethrough straight edge slides 42 and 44 which are fixed to slide hangers 46b and 48b. The slide hangers 45b and 48b are mounted over the ends of the respective stay tubes 20 and 22 which extend through bearings as 20', one of which is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The slides 42 and M- are movable with the straight edge members along the rail extensions 5 and 7 respectively. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, for example, the member 44 is slidably engaged against the under surface of inwardly projecting guide edge 7a. Similarly, the member 42 is slidably engaged against the under surface of inwardly projecting guide edge 5a.

An important feature of these straight edge slide members 42 and 44 is the provision of raised stops or gibs 46 and 48. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 stop or gib 43 consists of an elongated plate mounted on posts as 50 solidly anchored at the upper side of slide element 44. Similarly, stop 46 is mounted on posts as 52 on slide 42. These gibs 46 and 48 are formed with vertically extending lugs as 46a and 48a which are adapted to overlie the extension rails 5 and 7 in such a manner that in an advanced position of either one of the slides its gib lug will extend across and block the slot of the oppositely located extension rail. This is best illustrated by the change in position of gib lug 48a from the retracted position of FIG. 1 to the advanced position of FIG. 2. As may be readily seen from an inspection of FIG. 2, the slide 42 is effectively blocked from advancing out of its fully retracted position in which it is normally held by holding spring 19. A similar situation is present when these members are reversed in position.

Another important feature of the straight edge slide arrangement are two secondary locking mechanisms. Each .locking mechanism functions to maintain an opposite extension rail slot in a fully blocked state even when its respective straight edge is advanced foiwardly to a point where its gib lug is no longer blocking the slot.

Each secondary locking mechanism moves into and out of a locking position in response to movement of a respective straight edge gib lug. The secondary locking mechanisms include narrow lock plates 58 and 6t received against rail extensions and 7. Plate 60 is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and is formed with an elongated slot 64 through which project spaced apart studs 66 and 68 on rail extension 7. Cap screws 7t and 72 slidably maintain the lock plate against the side of rail extension 7 and a coiled spring 74 anchored between the stud 66 and an olfset end 76, normally seeks to urge the lock plate from right to left as viewed in FIG. 4. However, when the slide 44 is in a retracted position, for example, the gib lug 48a engages against the inner end of lock plate 60 and pushes lock plate 60 back into a position as shown in solid lines in FIG. 4.

In the event that the slide is advanced to a point where the gib lug passes by the slot 40 then the lock plate advances and the inner notched end 60a of the lock plate engages through the slot of the opposite rail extension 5 while the relieved surface 60!) stops against the surface of the rail extension immediately below the slot. Then the straight edge slide on the rail extension 5 is completely locked out of operation in all advanced positions of the straight edge on extension rail 7. Movement of the advanced straight edge to a retracted position results in the gib lug 48a automatically engaging the lock plate and carrying it back to the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 4. It will be understood that the separated components of the gib and lock combination shown in FIG. 5 are duplicated for the remaining straight edge assembly.

It is pointed out that the entire unit of rail extension, gib, slide, and lock plate may be installed without chan ing the machine parts or its method of operation and the installation of the lock plate and spring may be easily and cheaply carried out.

From the foregoing description it will be evident that I have devised an improved form of straight edge and slide locking mechanism which is operated whenever a straight edge is moved into an advanced position so that the remaining straight edge may not be accidentally advanced, and the lock is automatically disengaged and reset whenever a straight edge slide is moved from a locking position to a retracted position.

Although I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention, various changes and modifications may be practiced in keeping with the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a line-up and register table of the class described, a pair of straight edge units mounted for independent movement at the upper side of the table along paths of travel which extend at right angles to one another, extension rail members for supporting the straight edge units in retracted positions at two adjacent sides of the table, said extension members being formed with slots, slide members secured to each of the straight edge units for movement over said slots, vertical gib portions movable with respective slide members into positions of overlapping relationship with respect to the slots, locking plate means resiliently supported on the said extension members, said locking plate means presenting recessed locking extremities for engaging in the slotted portions of the said rail members.

2. In a table having rail extension members formed with slots and respective straight edge units movable along the rail extension members the combination of slide elements constructed and arranged on the straight edge units for blocking the slots in one position of advancement of the slide elements, and locking plate means for blocking said slots when the said slide elements are in another position of advancement.

3. In a line-up and register table of the class described, a pair of straight edge units mounted for independent movement at the upper side of the table along paths of travel which extend at right angles to one another, extension members for supporting the straight edge units in retracted positions at adjacent sides of the table, said extension members including slotted portions, slide elements fixed to the straight edge units and movable along said extension members into and out of engagement with the slotted portions in response to change in position of respective straight edge units, each of said slide elements including a blocking gib vertically disposed along one side of an extension member, locking plate means r resiliently supported on each of respective extension members in the path of travel of the blocking gib and spring means for advancing said locking plate means into a blocking position when a respective straight edge unit is in an advanced position.

4. In a lineup and register table of the class described, the combination of rack elements secured at the upper side of the said table and projecting outwardly from two adjacent edges of the table to provide rack extensions, a pair of straight edge units adapted to be supported in a retracted position on the extension racks and movable across the table along paths of travel which extend at right angles to one another, and a dual locking mechanism for locking one of the straight edge units in a retracted position when the other of the straight edge units is in an advanced position, said dual locking mechanism including a pair of slotted rail members secured to the rack extension to define slideways and a pair of slides fixed to the straight edge units and cooperating with the slotted rail members to selectively block the slideways.

5. A structure according to claim 4 in which each of the said slides presents a vertical gib portion movable along one slotted rail member into an overlapping position with respect to a slideway of the remaining slotted rail member.

6. A structure according to claim 5 further including a pair of lock elements slidably supported on respective slotted rail members. and spring means for urging a lock element on one rail member into blocking relationship with respect to the slideway of an adjacent rail member and the extremities of said lock elements being located in the path of travel of the said vertical gib portions whereby the lock elements may be withdrawn from a locking position when the vertical gib portions are removed into a retracted position.

Slobey Oct. 16, 1934 Hulen Sept. 1, 1959 

